The world is confusing. No one tells you how to do a damn thing until it is too late. This happens in games too. It’s hard to know where mistakes were made. Let It Die’s end of level replays make it easy to grasp the big picture.
Let It Die has been my major gaming vice for the last month. One awesome feature it has is a detailed replay whenever you clear a level. The quick recap traces your position on the map and shows all defeated enemies and found items. It’s pretty cool to see in motion.
More importantly, it gives me a chance to reflect on my gameplay in ways that other titles don’t. Dark Souls never gives me a clear understanding of the progress I’ve made. Let It Die does, and that extra context helps keep my gameplay progress in perspective.
In the example here, I’m able to track the progress of my low level character. Ignoring how cool it looks, this also helps me know what I can and can’t take on. What enemies have I killed? What weapons do I take? I’m able to analyse and breakdown my gameplay to figure out the preference and tactics that work for me.
I’m an enthusiastic person in real life. I often act based on gut instincts that can lead me astray. It’s hard to navigate the day to day when you look before you leap. No one tells you how to get things done. They only tell you when you fuck up.
Our entertainment does this too. Games are full of game over screens, baddies who taunt you when you die, and insulting offers to enable easy mode. Games love to rub your failures in your face.
Let It Die does something that I truly appreciate. It helps me understand my successes. It takes an accomplishment and breaks it down in a way that helps me to continue forward with confidence.
It’s a minuscule feature in a game full of high level concepts. But it helps. Even if I made mistakes along the way, Let It Die takes a second to remind me that I still achieved something.
Thanks Let It Die, for reminding me that I do occasionally manage to kick arse.
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